Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Video: Bluetooth Garage App is Working

App is now working. It controls a relay switch which is connected to the main garage door opener unit. Take a look at the video and tell me what you think.

Here is a schematic of the hardware and how its hooked up.

1) this is a Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT) relay. It is basically a switch that is controlled by a coil. When the coil gets energized (signal coming from the Arduino), it produces a small magnetic field and 'flips' the switch.

2) this is a diode used to protect the hardware from unwanted emf signals.

3) an NPN transistor used to provide enough current for the relay coil. The coil relay requires more current than the Arduino output pin can provide.

Bluetooth works just outside my home, but ideally I want to control the garage from anywhere I want. I will be modifying my App in order to communicate it with a computer through the internet. Stay tuned...

www.pfod.com.au has a (very) similar solution. But my pfodApp, available from the market, will control more then just garage doors. Step by step tutorial, no soldering required. No Android programming required. Not much Arduino programming required

I've started a similar project some time ago (bypassing the Arduino controller) and the device is almost ready in the manufacturing facility now. It's a low cost device (just $20), uses Bluetooth and has a nice Android app. You can check its campign at Indiegogo.com (the name Clicko). I'd be really glad to share your thoughts on my idea.

Blog Archive

About Me

I'm using this blog to document projects I am working on. Hopefully you can learn some things from me and hopefully I can learn some things from you, so leave me suggestions or comments at the bottom (good or bad)!
I will try to leave out the technical terms and describe things in ways everyone can understand.
And please subscribe!